Routine Proceedings / Presenting Reports from Standing and Special Committees

Presenting reports from standing and special committees

Debates pp. 3670-1

Background

Rising on a question of privilege, Mr. Fortin (Lotbinière) objected to the presentation of the first report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture which had just been tabled. He claimed that the House had adopted the order of reference with unanimous consent on December 18, 1969, to have the committee study the dairy industry, provided that the committee express its opinion on an earlier study of dairy policy made by the same committee the previous spring. This condition had not been fulfilled, according to Mr. Fortin. He proposed, therefore, to move that the report of the committee not be concurred in, but be referred back to the committee so that it might add, as an appendix to the report, the findings and recommendations of the special study. The Speaker made his ruling immediately.

Issue

Can the Speaker refuse to accept a report presented by a committee because it is claimed that the conditions attached to its order of reference have not been met?

Decision

No. Despite the serious nature of the issue, it is doubtful that the Chair can reject the report brought before the House. It is not a question of privilege.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The objection raised by the Member deals with the content of the report, which cannot be commented on when the report is presented. This can be done only on a motion in reference to the report. The Member can raise his objection when the motion is moved for concurrence in the report.

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 4th ed., pp. 248-9, c. 318(2), (3).

References

Debates, December 18, 1969, pp. 2118-9; February 17, 1970, pp. 3669-70.